Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-07-22
Costly Underground Homes.
A MARRIED COUPLE PREPARING A
PAIR OF COFFINs FOR THEM
SELVES.
TBostOn Herald
IBoston lIerald.l

SELVES.
GBoston Herald.
A reporter ran across a curious
item the other day which, while it
may read like an Arabian Nights
tale, is known to be true in every
respect by dozen people within
short distance of Boston. A gen
tleman whose word is to be implic.
lilly relied upon, and whose state
ments have subsequently been con-
firmed by other Investigations, said
to the writer:
"a year ago last April firm OF
manufacturing undertakers in this
vicinity were given the most extra
ordinary commission which they
had ever received. They were told
to make two mahogany caskets OF a
particular design, to be above the
usual size, aud in many parts iully
six inches in thickness. They were
cautioned not to say word to any
one about what they were doing, as
their customer dreaded publicity in
the matter. The caskets were made
as ordered. It required 800 worth
of mahogany to complete them, as
only the best wood and planks wide
enough to make each side consist
of one piece would answer. When
they were ready to be shipped from
the factory photograph was taken,
ana an inklng Of the affair got out
in this way. know that reporters
of almost every Boston paper tried
to get look at them, or learn for
whom they had been made, but
without avail. They were taken
from the factory in two twO.horse
wagons, each one making a heavy
load for a pair Of horses to draw
Outside cases OF the same material
we're also provided at great ex'
pense. The owner of the caskets
had them taken to his estate and
placed in a building which ne had
erected on purpose to receive them.
In that building two Of the best
wood carvers to be obtained have
worked on these caskets steadily
tor the past fourteen months and
they have nowhere near finished
the first one. They were carving
into the mahogany the most won
derful and intricate designs which
YOU could imagine, all from sketch
es furnished by eminent artists
There is a spider in the centre OF a
web so delicate that ones breath
would almost seem to move 1t;
skulls from which life.like serpents
are crawling; owls, hour'glasses,
and a hundred other things with
symbolic meaning. At the rate the
| carvers are progressing it will take
several years to finish their work
and when it is done it will be the
most marvellous thing OF the kind
in the world, I'll venture TO say. l
shonld think $4,000 would be a
low figure for both caskets. The
iasides will contain silken ham
mocks. in which the bodies will lie,
and many other strange and unique
embellishments. The gentleman
who is having the caskets made has
| purchased an entire knoll in one ol
| the most beautiful Of our cemeteries
and. it is said, will eXpend Sl25,OOC
upon the tomb in which they are
ultimately to he placed.
"And who is this eccentric lndl
| vidual 2" queried the reporter.
ale is a gentleman connected
with the medical profession, having
| an Office in Boston. His wife, who
takes, if possible, more interest II
| the casLet than himself, is said tC
be the granddaughter of a baron
and is reputed very rich in her owl
right"